By DANVALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

ADD #1 TUESDAY 8/7/12 — May we cut to the chase here. Let THE PLANET be the first to report that Mitt Romney‘s choice for vice president will be … drumroll, maestro …

… MARCO RUBIO. Rubio, the junior senator from Florida, will help Romney in that key state, one that me must win to claim overall victory in November. Rubio first served in the Florida legislature in 2000. He was speak of the house in 2006. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010. Rubio’s parents came to the United States from Cuba in 1956. They became citizens in 1975.

An interesting fact about his religion. His family was Roman Catholic, but for three years when Rubio was 8-11, the family lived in Las Vegas, Nev. There, he attended the Mormon Church, which is a little known tie to Romney. Rubio made his First communion as a Catholic in 1984. The following year, he moved back to Florida. He was later confirmed and married in the Catholic Church.

There is one hitch in the official announcement, one that has the potential to change Romney’s mind. In that case, he will turn to Rob Portman as his ticket mate.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY, AUG. 7, 2012) — We won’t say anything about any point of privilege we may or may not enjoy in terms of presidential politics. We have been excoriated for allegedly being on the payroll of the Romney Campaign, as if that would be some sort of federal crime. We shall neither confirm nor deny our participation in the 2012 Presidential Campaign, since we have always kept our client list secret. This is our privilege as a private company.

Think, America, Think.

For the sake of argument, say that we ARE writing for Romney and Company. Where is the disgrace, that a Pittsfield-born lad should grow up into a role that may affect national and world politics? We don’t see it. If we or any other local should be in that position, we should be proud of that fact. We will state this as fact: We met Gov. Romney when he presided in the Commonwealth. We made friends with many in his entourage, who are now key figures in the Presidential Campaign. These are people who are playing for keeps, and they don’t entertain well slackers or any who are not equipped to add substance to the cause.

The cause is nothing less than the destiny of the United States. Shall we continue as a debtor nation, building a political base among the gimmes and those who rely on government for their existence, or shall we break free into the auspices of unrestrained capitalism of free markets, free trade, and individualism? We ask this as a question and do not present it as a statement.

Think, America. Think.

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MR. MITT’s VP CHOICE

The talk is this: Who will Mr. Mitt nominate for vice president. We can say this with authority. It shall not be Condoleeza Rice. It shall not be Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. It shall not be Nick Haley, Susans Martinez, Rick Scott, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, or John Kasich. It will not, thankfully, be a woman. Romney will not pander in such a fashion. It will also not be the airhead, Sara Palin, who, we share, will not even be an official speaker at the Republican Convention.

The VP? We can only say this much. It will be among the following: Tim Pawlenty, Rob P0rtman, Bobby Jindall, Kelly Ayotte, and Marco Rubio. You might want to put the smart money on the last name mentioned here. Ayotte had no chance. FYI: The GOP convention is slated for Aug. 27-30 in Tampa, Fla. It will be among Portman, Pawlenty, and Rubio. Take the two Ps away. THE PLANET is reporting this first: Mitt Romney’s VP choice will be Marco Rubio.

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We have recently talked about the “feminzation of sports.” This phenomenon includes “everybody gets a trophy,” an abomination that has robbed the younger generation of the meaning of accomplishment and of true ‚ TRUE — self esteem. In the summer Olympics this year, we have heard all the criticisms about fat women athletes and women’s hairstyles.

C-A-S-E … I-N … P-O-I-N-T.

In today’s culture, where there is no sense of the past or the historical, perception, not reality, rules. And the perception of female athletes remains bound to the standards of popular culture, which are, in a couple of words, “thin” and “coiffed.”

Come on down, Wheaties box Gabby Douglass. This box won gold, and for that, she is now an expert on everything, including the state of her hair.

Here is Gabby’s Twitter:

“I don’t know where this is coming from. What’s wrong with my hair?” said Douglas, the first U.S. gymnast to win gold in team and all-around competition. “I’m like, `I just made history and people are focused on my hair?’ It can be bald or short, it doesn’t matter about (my) hair.”

Gabby, child. This is America, the Land of Veneer and Superficiality. Of course, it matters that your hair did not meet with savage approval. You are young. You have yet to realize how you are being used by the slave masters who love a charming young Negress under their heel.

PB
Why your fixation with this non-issue? What can it possibly matter to you if I am writing for, or not writing for Mitt Romney, Ed Norton, or the Man in the Moon? Explain your strange obsession, which borders on the perverse.

Mr. Valenti,
When is ‘MIttens’ going to show some spine and publicly go after Obama’s failure to release his Columbia University transcripts?
See the following article entitled:
“Obama’s College Classmate: ‘The Obama Scandal Is at Columbia’” by Wayne Allyn Root.

I am President Obama’s classmate at Columbia University, Class of ’83. I am also one of the most accurate Las Vegas oddsmakers and prognosticators. Accurate enough that I was awarded my own star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars. And I smell something rotten in Denmark. Obama has a big skeleton in his closet. It’s his college records. Call it “gut instinct” but my gut is almost always right. Obama has a secret hidden at Columbia- and it’s a bad one that threatens to bring down his presidency. Gut instinct is how I’ve made my living for 29 years since graduating Columbia.

Obama and his infamous strategist David Axelrod understand how to play political hardball, the best it’s ever been played. Team Obama has decided to distract America’s voters by condemning Mitt Romney for not releasing enough years of his tax returns. It’s the perfect cover. Obama knows the best defense is a bold offense. Just keep attacking Mitt and blaming him for secrecy and evasion, while accusing him of having a scandal that doesn’t exist. Then ask followers like Senator Harry Reid to chase the lead. The U.S. Senate Majority Leader appears to now be making up stories out of thin air, about tax returns he knows nothing about. It’s a cynical, brilliant, and vicious strategy. Make Romney defend, so he can’t attack the real Obama scandal.

This is classic Axelrod. Obama has won several elections in his career by slandering his opponents and leaking sealed documents. Not only do these insinuations and leaks ruin the credibility and reputation of Obama’s opponents, they keep them on the defensive and off Obama’s trail of sealed documents.

By attacking Romney’s tax records, Obama’s socialist cabal creates a problem that doesn’t exist. Is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader making up stories out of thin air? You decide. But the reason for this baseless attack is clear- make Romney defend, so not only is he “off message” but it helps the media ignore the real Obama scandal.

My answer for Romney? Call Obama’s bluff.

Romney should call a press conference and issue a challenge in front of the nation. He should agree to release more of his tax returns, only if Obama unseals his college records. Simple and straight-forward. Mitt should ask “What could possibly be so embarrassing in your college records from 29 years ago that you are afraid to let America’s voters see? If it’s THAT bad, maybe it’s something the voters ought to see.” Suddenly the tables are turned. Now Obama is on the defensive.

My bet is that Obama will never unseal his records because they contain information that could destroy his chances for re-election. Once this challenge is made public, my prediction is you’ll never hear about Mitt’s tax returns ever again.

Why are the college records, of a 51-year-old President of the United States, so important to keep secret? I think I know the answer.

If anyone should have questions about Obama’s record at Columbia University, it’s me. We both graduated (according to Obama) Columbia University, Class of ’83. We were both (according to Obama) Pre-Law and Political Science majors. And I thought I knew most everyone at Columbia. I certainly thought I’d heard of all of my fellow Political Science majors. But not Obama (or as he was known then- Barry Soetoro). I never met him. Never saw him. Never even heard of him. And none of the classmates that I knew at Columbia have ever met him, saw him, or heard of him.

But don’t take my word for it. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2008 that Fox News randomly called 400 of our Columbia classmates and never found one who had ever met Obama.

Now all of this mystery could be easily and instantly dismissed if Obama released his Columbia transcripts to the media. But even after serving as President for 3 1/2 years he refuses to unseal his college records. Shouldn’t the media be as relentless in pursuit of Obama’s records as Romney’s? Shouldn’t they be digging into Obama’s past–beyond what he has written about himself–with the same boundless enthusiasm as Mitt’s?

The first question I’d ask is, if you had great grades, why would you seal your records? So let’s assume Obama got poor grades. Why not release the records? He’s president of the free world, for gosh sakes. He’s commander-in-chief of the U.S. military. Who’d care about some poor grades from three decades ago, right? So then what’s the problem? Doesn’t that make the media suspicious? Something doesn’t add up.

Secondly, if he had poor grades at Occidental, how did he get admitted to an Ivy League university in the first place? And if his grades at Columbia were awful, how’d he ever get into Harvard Law School? So again those grades must have been great, right? So why spend millions to keep them sealed?

Third, how did Obama pay for all these fancy schools without coming from a wealthy background? If he had student loans or scholarships, would he not have to maintain good grades?

I can only think of one answer that would explain this mystery.

Here’s my gut belief: Obama got a leg up by being admitted to both Occidental and Columbia as a foreign exchange student. He was raised as a young boy in Indonesia. But did his mother ever change him back to a U.S. citizen? When he returned to live with his grandparents in Hawaii or as he neared college-age preparing to apply to schools, did he ever change his citizenship back? I’m betting not.

If you could unseal Obama’s Columbia University records I believe you’d find that:

A) He rarely ever attended class.

B) His grades were not those typical of what we understand it takes to get into Harvard Law School.

C) He attended Columbia as a foreign exchange student.

D) He paid little for either undergraduate college or Harvard Law School because of foreign aid and scholarships given to a poor foreign students like this kid Barry Soetoro from Indonesia.

If you think I’m “fishing” then prove me wrong. Open up your records Mr. President. What are you afraid of?

If it’s okay for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to go on a fishing expedition about Romney’s taxes (even though he knows absolutely nothing about them nor will release his own), then I think I can do the same thing. But as Obama’s Columbia Class of ’83 classmate, at least I have more standing to make educated guesses.

Yes, to say you didn’t know a college classmate doesn’t mean a thing. I went to small colleges (Union) and large universities (Syracuse). You never know everyone. We fail to see the relevance of supposed college transgression at are a generation old.

Romney is proposing to cut revenue by around $450 billion a year compared with current policy. Romney is intensely, screamingly irresponsible.
Romney is scamming voters, claiming not only that he can make up the lost revenue by closing unspecified loopholes, but that he can do so in a way that doesn’t shift the tax burden away from the rich onto the middle class. He can’t, as a matter of sheer arithmetic —
The Romney campaign isn’t even trying to make a substantive argument in response — they’re just calling names.
Even if you approve of Romney’s policy thrust, you should be appalled by the cynicism and contempt for voters on display…Just some thoughts to share..

HILLY
If Romney is scamming voters, then so is Obama. Fact is, if you look at the economic promises of both campaigns, the numbers do not add up. It doesn’t matter, of course, because these numbers are the fantasies of campaigns. The winner will not be expected to pay them much attention once he assumes office in January. Actually, the strongest candidate for president of the U.S. is Gary Johnson, running on the Libertarian ticket. Green Party candidate Jill Stein would also make a great president.

Here’s the truth hilly…. Obama, in three years, has almost successfully turned the greatest nation on earth into a socialist, welfare, entitlement state….if he is elected president, we will surely be the next Greece or Spain. Here’s to hoping the American people don’t fall for his, or Harry Reid’s lies and distortions about Mitt. The only way Obama can possibly win an election, is the way he always has….destroy the opponent with lies. it’s high time he release all of HIS records, don’t you think?

Mittens Romney is nothing more than an elitist. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has no clue what life is like for the middle class. His philosophy is money should stay with money and he epitomizes the under belly and the dark side of capitalism. The Rich look after themselves in the fallacy that the more they line their pockets the more jobs they will create. That B.S and is no different from communism where the ruling class keep doors tightly closed form any one else.

Obama epitomizes the American Drean and what this country was founded on. Coming from a modest background and working hard to achieve. This fact is lost on all the birthers, who just shiver at the thought of some one rattling the doors of ‘ let’s keep the rich rich’

Romney is a social and politicail snob and would be far worse than GW. Who himself was a silver spoon baby.

Romney is simply a good old boy looking after wealthy good old boys. Publish your tax returns Romey- show us what you are made of and where you hide your wealth. Wealth made on the backs of ‘the little people’ who are destined to never be allowed to join your wealthy club if you are elected.

Obama stands for issues even if I disagree with him at times. Romney says what ever is in current favor. A policy that flip flops with polls for votes not on any conviction.
Rock on Obama ! Rattle the wealthy eliets cage. You will have my vote any day over that elitist fool. At least I know Obama has several times been the outside looking in. Romney has oly been on the inside looking to find a way to keep others out.

Here’s the truth hilly…. Obama, in three years, has almost successfully turned the greatest nation on earth into a socialist, welfare, entitlement state….if he is elected president, we will surely be the next Greece or Spain. Here’s to hoping the American people don’t fall for his, or Harry Reid’s lies and distortions about Mitt. The only way Obama can possibly win an election, is the way he always has….destroy the opponent with lies. it’s high time he release all of HIS records, don’t you think?

I figure the VP nominee will be Rubio.
BHO is the worst president in the last 100 years and his behavior pattern was formed in college. He just rode along taking everything given to him and never exerting himself.
I think that any candidate for president must disclose everything. Hard copy birth certificate, all academic transcripts, tax returns, everything. No exceptions.

The worst president in the last 100 years is George W. Bush, a kind of overgrown kid walking through a tinder-dry forest, lighting matches and dropping them to the ground. We shall at some point take this up in a column.

SW
Yes, I am wrong sometimes, but I’m not wrong on “W.” Bush’s worst actions: the unnecessary wars in Afghanistan and Iraq … and his disastrous lack of understanding of “wild west” banking that led to the ’08 stock market crash, the decimation of retirement funds, and the mortgage disaster. We still can’t forget the words. When Lehman Brothers collapsed, Bush remarked about the economy: “This sucker could fall down.” This was the man who caused the US to be hated by all of the rest of the world, and with good reason.

Ever wonder why candidates spend millions of dollars to get a job that only pays $400,000 a year?

I had high hopes for Bush entering the office but his Presidency did turn out to be a total train wreck.

I really don’t blame him as a person though. I think he is a good person.

Obama got in primarily by promising to end the wars. In essence lying to the people. His Presidency has turned out to be an even bigger train wreck than Bush’s.

There are powers and forces higher than the President of the United States. They in essence tell the President what to do. You sort of get a hint on who they are when you see Obama always side on the side of the bankers.

Both Bush and Obama are Puppets on a string. They do as they are told.

Romney will be no different.

The people do not choose the President. If you own the race track and all the horses in a race, it does not matter which one people bet on.

Gabby’s hair? Her hair, the weight of some of the American female athletes (called fat), their emotional reactions to winning and lising (crying), critics of women sports are having a field day at these Olympics. It’s unfair, a double standard.

Dan. You gave Romney a free ride when you interviewed him right after he tore apart KB Toys went out. Not one peep from the voice for the little guy. Ask anyone that worked at KB what they think of Romney I don’t think it will nice!

Dan, you sound like a flaming liberal when you say gw was the worst president in history. You need to get your facts straight and stop blaming George bush for the mess this WORLD is in. He did what he had to do in the wake of 9/11. At least he has balls.
He had the same information everyone else had…let’s not beat a dead horse here. Monday morning quarterbacking is what liberals do! Obama is a piece of crap and needs to go! Hillary would be better than him!

I agree with Dan, Elizabeth on the Bush 2 presidency. He had no understanding of the economy or world affairs. He was as stupid as he appeared and totally ruled by Cheney, Rumsfeld and the other asults.

Ok whatever gene. He was stupid? Why, because of his goofy speech pattern? He doesn’t sound like an elite snob from the east coast…even though he went to Yale and harvard. Oh yeah, that was because daddy got him in. Blah blah blah. Read something other than the new York times and enlighten yourself on reality.

Elizabeth,
The problem is, these are not really ‘your’ opinions. You are just repeating what you hear on Fox News or conservative radio. It’s called ‘parotting’. Try doing some of your own research for a change? With all available data and sources? Apply some logic and reason to what is being told to you – by both sides of the aisle? Only then form one’s own, true opinion?
Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Yes, Obama has not been a very good president. But all objective, logic-minded folk know G. W. was the worst president ever. Why can’t you neo-cons just admit that and move on? Oh right, it’s the “we are always right and you are always wrong” mentality.

KRAKEN
There is much to chew on in your statement. When I call Bush the worst president in history, I’m a liberal loon. When I go after the not-quite-so-ineffective-but-still-pretty-good Obama, I’m a tea partier. I do find that disturbing “”we’re always right and if you disagree with us you’re evil” to be a far more prevalent attitude in the neocon camp, the rabid right for whom objectivity let alone logic and rationality are foreign concepts.

Hurry up and whip out the race card.It has nothing to do with the fact that he had little experience, and has done a shitty job.Really think he got elected because he was black and Hillary did not have a penis.

You’re a disgusting idiot pb. How dare you call me a racist! I disagree with obama because he is ruining our country…NOT because of his skin color. For your ignorant information, a large portion of my family is black. Not that it’s your business. There are countless awesome black…oh, pardon me..african American leaders in this country. It’s not about skin color…it’s about substance and ideology. Spew your racist hatred somewhere else. This is about saving our country from a socialist radical. Bring it on!

Prior to Omaba becoming President I strongly said all the time that Jimmy Carter was the worst. Some people disagreed with me. Now I:m I moved Obama to the worst, its because of his race, WRONG its what he is doing to this country. If you disagree with me that fine (many many do) but please stop using this race crap.

This country CANNOT SURVIVE 4 more years of Obama. We will surely go the way of Europe and worse if he is elected for a second term. All the things that Obama wants to do and will do in his 2nd term are exactly what is contained in the socialist agenda that the bankrupt European countries have been following.

For all of these people who continue to say that anyone who disagrees with Obama is a racist, just remember that anyone who disagrees with the first woman President will be labeled as being guilty of misogyny. For anyone who doesn’t know what this term means, it means someone who hates women. I can just hear it now. “Oh, you don’t agree with our first female President because you hate all women, you misogynist”……and so it will go.

If the republican party had worked with the president of the united states the last three years, instead of putting all of their energy into trying to make him look bad, you might have a different view of him. It strikes me that the republican party is more interested in the power than they are in the people they meed to serve. And I do think that the democratic version goes too far the other way.

It would be nice if both sides could get over their self serving mindsets and actually do what is good for the overall population. They are so like little children fighting in a sandbox. America needs to start over with a whole new government.

A young, dynamic politician with an non-white heritage? Clearly, Romney, too, is playing the race card here if he chooses Rubio, which I will be surprised if he doesn’t. But the qualities Rubio has are the same ones that a young senator from Illinois had who got elected POTUS. It is a blatant move to court the Hispanic vote, which is the largest growing population of voters in this country. As a strategic move, it looks good on paper, but may in the end lessen the strength of a voting community/voting bloc that would otherwise wholly back one candidate or the other.

As for Horace Greeley and punctuation, I think I’ll stick with Strunk and White.

You guys are funny no wonder we never get anywhere in america. Bush the worst well we’ve had the worst impact from his choices and yeah Obama/Romney it doesn’t matter. Obama is still bombing with predator drones killing innocents. My question is why no top official in the US is ever charged with ware crimes… Only when regular everyday people control gov’t will you see peace and an economy that makes sense.

I was willing to give Bush II a chance even though the election of 2000 was stolen. What choice did we have? He botched those eight years causing irreparable harm to the US aboard and destroying the US economy.

those red neck republicans went nuts when prez obama got in…….can you imagine them voting for rubio, does rubio have a green card? was he born in america? wheres his birth certificate? these are only a few that the red necks will ask.

DV, I am heartened to read your supportive opinion of Mr. Romney. I routinely try to glean as much information about the candidates from as many varied sources as I can. I consider myself a right of center conservative. I voted for Mr Mcain in the last election but when Mr. Obama won he became my president and I stand firmly behind him. The obstructionism practiced by the Republicans in Congress against Mr. Obama the past few years is in my opinion shameless. I will be voting for Mr. Romney this year because Mr. Obama has failed miserably in two very important areas. His claim to be the most transparent administration has fallen woefully short. His inability to take responsibility for any of our countries problems after three plus years is unacceptable. I found the natural contradiction of a liberal East coast thinker like you finding common ground with Romney to be honest and open. Keep up the good work !